Reston, VA – MAPPS, the association of private sector geospatial firms, today announced it is participating in a national summit to develop a strategy to establish a National Parcel System of interoperable land ownership data.

“Since the first National Research Council study in 1980, a national “cadastre” or parcel system has been deemed desirable and feasible, but has lacked organizational and institutional leadership at the Federal level’ said Susan Marlow of Stantec, President of MAPPS. “In 2007, I was honored to serve on the National Research Council study, National LandParcelData: A Visionfor theFuture. Today’s summit will focus on an action plan to implement the NRC recommendations and make a national system a reality.”

The summit is being hosted by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and its Homeland Infrastructure Foundation - Level Data (HIFLD) Subcommittee, along with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). More than 120 experts from Federal, state and local government, private companies, and nonprofit organizations are meeting at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) headquarters in Reston, VA to develop the parcel strategy.

“MAPPS is pleased to be a partner with the summit’s hosts. A parcel system has been a MAPPS public policy goal for many years, thanks to the longstanding leadership of Ms. Marlow. Were optimistic today’s session will result in actions that will finally result in a parcel system that will assisting with economic development, housing, homeland security, land management, and dozens of other government and commercial activities,” said John Palatiello, MAPPS Executive Director.

Support for the summit was provided by these firms: Esri, Digital Map Products, CoreLogic, Stantec, OptimalGEO, The Sidwell Company, and Boundary Solutions, Inc.